Thomas j



(No-Model.)

T. J. MGTIGHE & S. W. CHILDS. TROLLEY WIRE GIRGUITBREAKER.

UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. McTIGHEAND lsII-MNER w.- CHILDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS, RY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To FREDERICK K. FITCH, OF

SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY-WIRE CIRCUIT-BREAKE'R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of V:Letters Patent No. 5243283, dated August '7, 1894.' Application tiled January 23, 1893. Renewed January 22, 1894-.. Serial No. 497.724. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. MCTIGHE and SUMNER W. CHILDS, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Wi re Circuit-B reakers for Electric Railways, ot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of device known as circuit breaker or sec- .tion insulator for the trolley-'wire of electric railways, the object of such devices being to separate the trolley wire into any desired number of sections, each insulated from its adjacent section.

As the trolley wire is usually very tense, the circuit breaker requires to be very strongly made, and, as the swaying of the wire and the upward pressure of the trolley produces a variety of strains, it should be as stift and well braced `as possible.

Heretofore circuit-breakers have been made i` of various styles, but their general type has- ,257

been the same, namely two castings adapted to grip the respective sections of trolley wire, and an intervening insulating connection, sometimes a plain bar of wood or ber and sometimes an insulated metal rod. While these forms serve the intended purpose and are not herein criticised, nevertheless the liability always exists that, when an accidental failure of thev insulation occurs, the consequent short-circuit can burn out the insulation and generally with it the bond of union between section and section, and the trolley wire is apt to fall into thestreet.

Our aim has been to construct a circuit breaker which while having the necessary inso that should a short-circuit or burn-out occur, it will be confined to one of these, and the other will keep the trolley-line intact.

To these and other ends, our invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings which form through, Veach having the internal shoulder c.

The two castings are united by means of the insulated side bars D, each consisting of the inner metal rod f preferably vot steel, surrounded by the closely fitting tube gof hard fiber or other suitable insulating material. Heavy insulating washers h are placed around .the rods f so as to rest against shoulders c.

Then metal washers 'L' are placed to receive the strain and inallya nut or nuts lc are screwed home so as to lie entirely within the cavity of the arms B, which is then filled up with any appropriate material, such as sulphur, pitch, or a mixture ot' pitch and rubber.

We .prefer to use a tube g of such external diameter as to require slight milling to it into arms B, so as to fully realize the bracing `of all parts against all strains inherent'to practical use. To further stiften the structure we applya metal bridge L across the center of the structure, the side bars D passing through perforations made to receive them. The bridge L is provided with the extended eyes m for attaching the span-wires, anda central socket a to enable it to be suspended directly from an insulator if desired. To further stiffen the construction and afford a smooth track for the trolley-wheel we apply between the end castings a central bar` of hard wood or other non-conductor @its ends being received in pockets formed in the cast ings and fastened therein by screws r.

Therunner p receives the wear from the trolley wheel and can be renewed without disturbing the circuit breaker-a very important feature. l

The trolley wire may be gripped in various ways, but we prefer that shown, which is the same as described and claimed in the pend ing application, Serial No. 459,339, of T.' J. McTighe, namely the slotted and threaded studs cast on the ends A, and provided with the plug t and cap c. The 'extremities of the castings A have the perforated iiaps w1 adapted to 'befolded'inwardlyover the trolley wire and riveted together.

The end of the trolley wire is laidvin the slotted stud, then the plug is placed in the slot on top of the wire, and the cap screwed. down, causing the plug to jam the wire against the bottom of the slot and clamp it therein.

As described in the application above re-` vferred'to the clamp is rendered more secure by curving the bottom of 'the slot and the lower edge of the plug, -so as to force a bend or kink in the wire. m is cast on each end forattachment of a feed Wire or a jumper-wire when desired. Thus` constructed, if a-spark occurs when the trol' ley wheel is rolling off a runner A onto the central-runner p it would take place between runner A and the wearing surface of the wheel, witlrdetriment to the smoothness of the latter.

of the'runnerA, the relations'being such that as'the Wheel is about to reach the sparking. point, .its rim begins toride on the apron y,

cuited as toactually melt oi, without impair ing the mechanical efliciency of the circuit- "breaker asapart of thetrolley line, and hence the-wire issafely upheld at all times. This beingtrue, the damaged side can `be repaired without remo-ving the device from the line or interfering with'traffic. .Not only this advantage accrues from our invention, but the duplicating of the strain -bars D has the most The usual binding-block Toavoid this, we construct the curved apron 'y which` extends on both sidesdesirable effect of stiening the whole device. Wind strains, the grinding action of a badly mounted trolley wheel, the peculiar thrust ofy a distorted or bent trolley-pole, and the oscillation caused by bad track, are all provided against by the stiff bracing presented 4inour construction.

We claim asour invention--4 1. A trolley-wire circuit-breaker composed of two end castings united by two lateral parallel insulated rods xed in said castings but insulated' therefrom.

2. A trolley-wire circuit breaker composed of two end castings united by twolateral parallel insulated rods fixed in said castings but insulated therefrom and 'a central runner or trolley-wheel-guide of non-conducting material.

3. A ltrolley-wire Ycircuit breaker composed of two end castings united .by two'insulated rods and acentral bar of non-conducting'material, the rods being in tension and :thebar in compression.

4. A trolley-wire circuit breaker having a metallic runner for the trolley-,wheel and an apron extending beyond the runner, the relations being such that the rim of the 2wheel remains lin contact with .the apron untilf'the surface of the wheel has got past the .end'of the runner, substantially as described, whereby the injury due to sparking is caused yto-take place on the apron and rim instead of on the runner and grooved wheel surface.

5. The trolley-wire circuit breaker com- ,posed of the castings A B, united bythe bolts `or rods f, covered with insulating tubing g,

and braced apart by .the non-conductingre- `movable runner p suitably anchored in cast-4 ings A, each of said castings having a clamp for the trolley-wire.

Signed at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, this 20th day of January, A. D. 1893.

THOMAS J. MoTIGI-IE. SUMNER W. CHILDS. Witnesses:

MILLER A. SMITH, JOHN F. BARRY. 

